CCN3 and CCN3 peptides and analogs thereof for therapeutic uses

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for treating a human patient with a pathology by administering to the subject an effective amount of an agent selected from the group of: native full-length CCN3 proteins; analog CCN3 full-length proteins with native cysteine residues substituted by a replacement amino acid; CCNp native peptide fragments having from about 12 to about 20 amino acids; analog CCNp peptide fragments with native cysteine residues substituted with a replacement amino acid; and combinations thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for treating a human patient with fibrosis or in need of tissue regeneration comprising:
 administering to the human patient an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of:
 a. CCN3 full-length proteins with native cysteine residues substituted by a serine (SEQ. ID. Nos. 42, and 62); 
 b. CCNp native peptides selected from CCNp48 (SEQ. ID. No. 48), and CCNp49, CCNp50, and CCNp52 (SEQ. ID. Nos. 49, 50, and 52); 
 c. CCNp peptides with native cysteine residues substituted with a serine selected from CCNp36 (SEQ. ID. No. 36), CCNp37, CCNp54 and CCNp55 (SEQ. ID. Nos. 37, 54, and 55), CCNp38, CCNp53, CCNp56, CCNp57, CCNp58, CCNp59, CCNp60, and CCNp61 (SEQ. ID. Nos. 38, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, and 61), and CCNp40 (SEQ. ID. No. 40); and 
 d. combinations thereof. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of administering comprises delivering the agent in a stem cell solution. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibrosis is associated with at least one of a kidney, heart, liver, lung, vasculature, cervix, eye, gum, skin, brain, and peritoneum. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of administering comprises delivering through a route of administration selected from the group consisting of intravenous, intramuscular, nasal, topical, vaginal, anal, transdermal, inhalation, oral, buccal, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraosseous and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the transdermal route of administration is selected from transdermal patch and transdermal electrophoresis. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the agent further comprises a carrier molecule. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the carrier molecule is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycol groups, proteins, and serum proteins. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of modifying the agent to increase its stability, shelf life, half-life, in vivo-targeting, or to improve its attachment to a cell of interest, or entry into the cell of interest.